Five get life for murder in Golaghat

RITUPALLAB SAIKIA

Golaghat, May 7: Five persons convicted in a murder case were sentenced to life imprisonment by the sessions court here today.

The court of sessions judge T. Lohar sentenced Maliram Hazarika, Gopal Hazarika, Nabin Hazarika, Rupam Hazarika and Bhaskar Hazarika to life imprisonment after they were found guilty of murdering Gobin Hazarika in October 2008.

The court also asked the five to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 each. In case of a default in payment of fine, they shall undergo rigorous imprisonment of another two years.

Maliram, Gopal and Nabin are the younger brothers of the victim and used to live separately. Rupam and Bhaskar are the sons of Maliram and Gopal.

Police said the convicts attacked Gobin with sharp weapons when he was returning home after grazing his cattle in the fields on October 4, 2008. He was taken to Golaghat civil hospital where he succumbed to his injury.

Gobinís wife lodged an FIR at Dergaon police station the same day. The police registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC and subsequently submitted a chargesheet after investigation.

The court in its judgment said the accused had prayed for utmost leniency but it could not be ignored that their act had killed a person and brought catastrophe to his family. It also said the extreme penalty of death was not warranted in this case and imprisonment for life would meet the ends of justice.

The prosecution was represented by public prosecutor Durga Prasad Jaiswal while the accused were defended by advocate Jayanta Kumar Goswami.